U.S. Women Hold Off Pesky Senegal 87-67 In World Cup Opener

By Associated Press

Sep 22, 2018 | 3:40 PM

Breanna Stewart, shown here during an earlier practice, scored 14 points as the U.S. women's national team opened play at the World Cup in Spain with an 87-67 win over Senegal on Saturday. (Elaine Thompson / AP)

Elena Delle Donne scored 19 points and Nneka Ogwumike added 16 to help the U.S. beat Senegal 87-67 on Saturday night in the Americans' opener at the Women's Basketball World Cup at Tenerife, Spain.

The two teams played six days ago and the Americans cruised to a 51-point victory. For the first 15 minutes, Senegal was the more aggressive team. The African nation took a 10-2 lead early on much to the delight of fans who were singing and waving the country's flag proudly. When the U.S. took a 15-12 advantage, Senegal answered with five straight points to take the lead again.

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The game was tied at 25 midway through the second quarter before the U.S. started to assert its dominance. The Americans (1-0) closed the half with a 20-6 run keyed by Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi to take a 14-point lead at the break.

Senegal tried to hang around in the third quarter and only lost the period by three points, but it could get no closer than 15 in the final 10 minutes, when the U.S. pulled away.

The victory was the Americans' 17th in a row in the tournament and 42nd in the past 43 games in the World Cup. The only blemish over the past 20 years was a defeat to Russia in the semifinals of the 2006 World Cup.

The starting lineup consisted of four former UConn stars: Bird, Taurasi, Tina Charles and Breanna Stewart. The four, along with Morgan Tuck, combined for 30 of the U.S. points, led by Stewart’s 14.

Bird has been a part of most of those wins. She is playing a U.S. record fifth World Cup. She has won three gold medals and could become the first player ever to win four. Bird was still wearing a mask to cover her face after breaking her nose in the WNBA playoffs.

Bird and Seattle Storm teammates Stewart and Jewell Loyd showed up earlier this week after winning the WNBA championship. The Americans have had the entire team together for only a few days, and building chemistry and continuity on the court will be key during pool play.

In the past, the Americans have had a consistent core of players. This team has six players who got their first World Cup experience: Delle Donne, Loyd, Layshia Clarendon, Morgan Tuck, A'ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum. Delle Donne played for the U.S. in the 2016 Olympics but missed the 2014 world championship because of a thumb injury.

She suffered a bone bruise in the WNBA playoffs and is still recovering.

Khairy Sarr Oumoul scored 18 points for Senegal (0-1), which fell to 0-5 against the U.S. in the World Cup all-time. The U.S. won the first four meetings by an average of nearly 53 points.

Notes: The U.S. was without Brittney Griner on Saturday after she tweaked her ankle in practice. She is day to day. … African nations have struggled in the World Cup, falling to 6-90 in the competition since it first began in 1953. Senegal has been the most successful, winning four times. Nigeria lost to Australia earlier Saturday. … China defeated Latvia 64-61 in the other game in the same pool as the U.S. France beat South Korea 89-58; Australia topped Nigeria 86-68; Turkey routed Argentina 63-37 and Canada beat Greece 81-50. Japan faces host Spain and Puerto Rico plays Belgium later Saturday.